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Taylor facing Newcastle exit with QPR one potential destination

The Magpies defender could be sold in January as part of a defensive overhaul at St James’ Park and Harry Redknapp has previously shown an interest.

Steven Taylor could be set for a Premier League move away from Newcastle United this January, with manager Alan Pardew reportedly keen to overhaul the Magpies’s leaky defence.

According to a report from the Chronicle, the Toon boss is eager to bring in fresh faces come January, amid worries over the lack of form shown by current centre-back pairing Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson.

While neither is likely to be sold during the mid-season, Pardew is thought to be considering bringing in another defender to increase the competition for places.

Taylor, meanwhile, has cut an increasingly isolated figure at St James’ Park, having made just one Premier League appearance for the Magpies so far this term.

That comes despite the team shipping 15 goals from their first seven top-flight outings this season – a record many would have felt could have prompted a return to the first-team for the 28-year-old.

And despite previously pledging his future to the Toon, the Chronicle believes that this lack of playing time could be enough to convince Taylor to leave the club he joined as a boy back in 1995.

Queens Park Rangers could lead the race to sign the player, with Harry Redknapp previously attempting to bring Taylor to Loftus Road as part of a last-gasp bid prior to the close of the summer transfer window.

On that occasion, the Newcastle man snubbed the Rs offer, but an extended period on the sidelines could be enough to convince him otherwise, with the player in the final few months on his deal with the Tyneside club.

Most likely available at part of a cut-price deal, QPR could well have another look at the former England under-21 come January.

Jack Beresford

Jack is a 27-year-old writer with experience in writing about sport in a range of guises. He’s something of a statto when it comes to soccer and has a passion for English football at all levels, as well as Serie A and the Bundesliga.